A rule of thumb that I've heard a few times is that it takes between .5 and
1.5 barrels of water (barrel = 42 gallons) to refine 1 barrel of oil. I
think this conference has an abstract or two that references this water
consumption number: http://www.aiche-chicago.org/symposium06/abstract.htm

Since approximately 19.6 gallons of gasoline are produced from a barrel of
oil, that would come out to about 1 - 3 gallons of water consumption per
gallon of gasoline produced - at least in the refinery side of things. A
bunch of other things are also produced from that barrel of oil (e.g.,
diesel, propane, jet fuel, etc.), and these should also be factored into how
water consumption translates into usable energy. Here's the source of the
refinery product numbers:
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/ask/gasoline_faqs.asp#gallons_per_barrel

A modern corn to ethanol plant in the U.S. ranges from about 3 - 6 gallons
of water per gallon of ethanol produced. Cellulosic ethanol facilities will
have a somewhat higher water demand, although there aren't any good
operational numbers that I know about right now. However, it is worth noting
that the water demands of common ethanol feedstocks (e.g., irrigated corn)
can exceed the distillation demand by 2 orders of magnitude. In other words,
I think it's fair to say that the water consumption problems that may be
posed by increased use of ethanol are much more a function of the
agricultural practices used to grow the feedstock than the distillation
process.

Hope that's helpful.

Jason

Jason Evans, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
School of Forest Resources and Conservation
University of Florida

Office: Newin-Ziegler 319
Phone: (352) 328-1199


-----Original Message-----
From: Bioenergy and Sustainable Technology Society
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Humphrey,Stephen R
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 1:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Happy Thanksgiving

Don't recall ever seeing a figure, but there may be something cited as a
tangent to the substantial evidence on water needed to produce oil
sands--just do a web search for oil sands & water.


Dr. Stephen R. Humphrey, Director of Academic Programs,
School of Natural Resources and Environment,
Box 116455, 103 Black Hall, University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-6455 USA
Tel. 352-392-9230, Fax 352-392-9748
http://snre.ufl.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: Bioenergy and Sustainable Technology Society
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Honey Rand
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 1:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Happy Thanksgiving

> Does anyone know how much water is used to create 1 million BTU of oil

> or unleaded gas?

I see so much about 4 gallons of water for a gallon of enthanol, but
can't find anything on the petrochemical side....

I called DOE, but they said they just don't keep that kind of data.

There's a report on a conference from OH in 2006 that attribute 8
gallons to a Conoco presenter, but there's no name and .... well, we
seem to have hit a dead end.

Got any ideas or (better) information?

Have a great Thanksgiving....

Honey

Honey Rand, Ph.D., APR
The Environmental PR Group
Tampa, FL
813.948.6400
[log in to unmask]


Author: Water Wars: A Story of People, Politics and Power

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